webctl

Webctl is a command-line browser automation tool designed for AI agents and operations teams. Unlike MCP-based alternatives, webctl gives you control over what enters your agent's context—filter snapshots, pipe output through Unix tools, and cache results to reduce token costs. It supports Claude, Cursor, Gemini, Copilot, and other AI agents through both native skills and prompt integration. Webctl uses landmark-aware filtering, structured data extraction, and smart network detection to complete web tasks efficiently. Benchmarks show webctl achieves higher quality scores than comparable tools while reducing token usage and operational costs.

[{"step":"Install webctl and its dependencies (e.g., `pip install webctl` and ensure Chrome/Chromium is installed).","tip":"Use `webctl --version` to verify installation. For headless mode, ensure your system supports GUI-less execution."},{"step":"Define the task in a structured format. Break complex workflows into smaller steps (e.g., login → navigate → export).","tip":"Test each step individually first. Use `webctl --debug` to log actions for troubleshooting."},{"step":"Execute the task via CLI or integrate with an AI agent. For CLI: `webctl --task \"[TASK]\" --output [FILE]`. For AI agents, use the prompt template above.","tip":"Adjust `BROWSER_MODE` (headful/headless) and `DELAY_MS` based on network speed and page load times."},{"step":"Verify the output (e.g., check file existence, data accuracy). Log errors for debugging.","tip":"Use `webctl --replay` to replay the session and inspect failures. For AI agents, ask the model to validate the output."},{"step":"Automate the task in a cron job or CI/CD pipeline if it’s recurring. Example: `0 2 * * * webctl --task \"[DAILY_EXPORT]\" --output /backups/users_$(date +%Y%m%d).csv`","tip":"Store credentials securely (e.g., environment variables) to avoid hardcoding sensitive data."}]